Wear-compensating bearing



May 7, 1929 c. H. sAYRE 1,712,310

WEAR COMPENSATING BEAR-I NG Filed `March 19, 1928 WITNESS v v SY v Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. SAYRE, OF ELMIRA., NEW YORK.

W'EARCOMPENSATIN BEARING.

Application led March 19, 1928. Serial No. 262,668.

ln modern automotivepractice it is customary to attach the forward ends of the front springs directly to the lorvvard end of the iframe oi` an automobile without the intera position ci a movable shackle but in such manner that the spring is capable of pivotal movement with respect to the trame as the former liexes under operative conditions; it

is also common practice to similarly attach .lll the forward ends of the rear springs to the trame particularly in cars in which the Well known Hotchkiss drive is employed or, in other words, those in which the forward thrust oi the rear axle communicated to the frame through the rear springs instead of througha torque men'ibcr.` l It has been found, however, that considerable wear takes place at these points o1 attachment with consequent disagreeable rattling after the car has been driven :For a relatively short distance, the only etiective remedylor which is the installation ot new bushings and. bolts from time 'to time. i

li. principal object of my invention, there- Jfore, to provide a wear compensating bearing suitable, ainong its many uses, .for attaching the iront ends of the springs to the frame and operative to automatically compensate 'for or take up such wear asvmay occur between the relatively moving` bearing surfaces so as to eliminate looseness therebetween with consequent prevention of rattling and other noises at these points of attachment substantially 'during the lite ot the car, thus avoiding the necessity for irequent replacement of parte` to maintain the requisite snugness.` ot' lit.

Further objects oit inyinvention are to provide a wear compensating bearing which may be readily employed on existing types of automobiles or other macliineryior various purposes as, Y[for examplq for attaching the front ends oit the springs of an automobile to the iframe thereof without material alteration or reconstruction of the car and to provide a bearing of this character having adequate bearing area between therelatively moving bearing surfaces and in which the parts are of sufficient sise to ailiord the requisitestrength to sustain the required load yet in which the external dimensions ot the parts are not increased to a point which would prevent the use oil the bearing in automobiles designed for the plain bearings ordinarily employed, .thus enabling bearings constructed. in accordance with the present invention to be utilized either as lactory equipment on new cars or 'for replacement purposes on old cars without material alteration or modification of the design thereof. y

A still tur-ther object of my invention is to provide a wear compensating bearing of simple design and construction and comprising but a relatively small number oiparts of a character suitable for eiiicient and economil cal manufacture, whereby my improved bearing lmay be employed without material increase in cost over the plain bearings ordinarily utilized for similar purposes.

.Mymvention further includes other objects and novel features of design, construction and arrangement hereinafter more particularly mentioned or whichwill be apparent from the accon'ipalrying drawings in which l have illustrated certain forms ot' bearings embodying the principles of my invention. A

While, as hitherto stated, bearings constructed in accordance with my invention are well adapted for installation at the poin tso'f attachment ol the forward ends of antoniobile springs to the frame oil the automobile, they may, with equal facility and advantage, be employed for other purposes as, for eX- ample, in the steering knuckles or Yiront axle spindle bearings of an automobile or at the points ot connection of the cross tie rod with the steering arms in the steeringr mechanism oit an automobile, and it will thus be understood that while I have .illustrated in the said drawing and will herein more particularly rei'er to certain forms of the invention adapted tor connectingthe spring and frame as aforesaid ll do not thereby desire or intend to` limit the use of the invention to that purpose alone. V

In said drawing, Fig. l is a vertical cental. section showing one form of my improved bearing as .employed to operatively connect an end of one of the springs with the frame oi an auton'iobile and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2--2 in Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows. Figs. 3 and l areviews respectively correspondingto Figs. 1 and 2 but showing a slightly different iorm of bearing, while Figs. 5 and 6 similarly illustrate a still different form of bearing. Fig. fi is fragmentary `side elevation on a .reduced scale showing the `iront end of i an `autmnobilo v:frame Aanddiront end of the ilorwardspring attachedthereto by ai bearling constructedin accordance with iny invention, andfFig. 8 is a similar view showing the forward end of the rear spring similarly attached to a lng or bracket depending from the car frame. The samesymbols are used to designate corresponding parts in the several figures.v A. Y

Referring now more particularly to that form of lthe invention iliustrated in Figs. 1 and`2, L-L represent laterally spaced depending ears or lugs forming integral parts of orperinanently attached tothe frame F and' between ywhich thev end of the spring S is disposed. `The spring is provided in the ordinary manner with an eye adaptedv to re'- ceive a` bushing 1 ordinarily of cylindrical exteriorcontonr and pressed orotherwise disj veniently of hexagonal cont-our andfadapted f posed inl the spring eye so as to be operatively rigid therewith; YThis bushing which is usuJ ally of bronze or other suitable bearing metal islaxiallyV bored Y and provided adjacent its ends witlrontwardly and oppositely tapered bearing surfaces adapted to bear upon .the

bearing surfaces or regions of the spindle 2 'and sliding bushing 3 when the paits are operatively assembled, This spindle 2, which is preferably formed from a single piece of metal, progressively comprises Va head 4 conto rest against't-he outer face of one of the lugs or ears L', an exteriorly threaded region adapted to seat in a correspondingly internally threaded bore in the lngy and a conical region Y6 tapering inwardly from the threaded region in "correspondence with the adjacent tapered bearing surface of the bushing 1 in which, Whenthe parts are assembled, the con ical portionfof the spindle is received and .e thus serves to support theV adjacent end of the bushing.` Ifdesired a lockvasher 9 may Y be' disposed beneath andrbent up against the head 4 toprevent the spindle from rotating .after it is assembled in theV lug.

` Support is afforded to the opposite end of "the bushing,` vthat is, the end opposite the head', through means now to be described and which comprise a sleeve nut'g'enerally designatedaslO having a headl 1'1 desirably of hexagonal forni Vadapted to seat againstv the outer face of the other ear L frointhat into 'which the spindle isfthreadedVv or against a locll; lWasher 12 interposed between the head ofthe nut' and face of the lug (and Which is bent np in the usual way after assembly of the parts soy as toY prevent rotation of the nut) and anV integral exteriorly threaded portion 13 adapted to be screwed into a correspondingly interiorly threaded bo'rein the adjacent lug.

This portion y13 of the nut as well as a part of lthe head proper is 'axially bored out to pro- Vvide cylindrical cavity 14.v for the reception ofthe'outer cylindrical end of the sliding bushing 3 `Which is of. a diameter' to form a goods'liding fittherein', the opposite'or inner end 1.5V of thebusliing being conical and in.

wardly tapered in correspondence with the tapered bore in the adjacent end of the bushing. The cylindrical or outer portion 16 of the sliding bushing is also axially bored out to form a cavity 17 which is of smaller diameter than the cavity 14 and adapted to receive a` coil spring 18 which after the parts are assembled is constantly maintained in a state of compression between the ends of the cavities 14 and 17 and is thus effective to conbore in the bushing may be cylindrical and i forms an oil or grease receiving chamber or reservoir 19 adapted to contain a relatively considerable body of a suitable lubricant thereby insuring adequate and effective lubrication of the relatively moving hearing surfaces over an extended period after the chamber has been filled.

It is thus apparent that when the parts are assembled by first positioning the spring eye 1 between thc lugs L in axial alignment with the threaded bores therein, then screwing theI snindle into place, slipping the sliding bush ing into place, inserting the spring in the cavity of the bushing and tinally screwing down the sleeve nut-so as to compress theI spring, an adequate and satisfactory bearing arca or surface is provided for the spring eye bushing and that the spring 18 is constantly operative to urge the sliding bushing iiiivardly so as to compensate for any Awear which may take place between thc 'various bearing surfaces and thus continuously preserve the requisite snugness of tit. l

Since in this form of the invention thc end of the sliding bushing which is received in the sleeve nnt is cylindrical, it is necessa rv to provide some means to prevent thc bushing from turning in the nut for, in the absence thereof, if the frictional resistance to relativ(` turning movement between the conical surv4 fares ofthe spring eye bushing] and the slidingbushing happens to be greater than that afforded to turning by the sliding bushiny itself, the latter under operative `condition? might merely oscillatc in the sleeve nut withont any relative movement taking place bctwe'en the conical bearing surfaces of the spring. eye bushing and the sliding bushing. Means are therefore provided for preventing relative rotation between th(` nut and the bushing, the particular embodiment thereof utilized in the form of the invention now being described comprising a pair of pins 20 seated in holes 21 drilled inwardlv from the outer face of the nut and at their'inncr ends extending into both the sleeve and the buslilil'l llll '1,712,310 ffl nine; :is heet shown in Figi 2. Conveniently when iii-Wo pins ore employed they may he disposed in dieinetricnlly opposed relation. llhos otter the sleeve nnt is screwed into the l'rznne hip,` during the process ot assembly, the limes 2l in the nnt may he aligned with. thor-r in the hnshii'igg :ind the pins then driven .inn place, thereby effectively preventing reletive rotation between the parte. pini-i ineiy he ir-et driven into the nut eind the epi-ing and bushing oeeenihled therewith, zitter v-shich the nnt, carrying the bushing and the epringn een he Screwed into place in the lne' i eeired the nnt nioy loe provided ,it d i :in iinjei'iielly threaded. nxielhore 22 for the oonnecti "i nipple end i here itoifini n3; e lnliiricnnt lmssenge the inner end ot vwhich roininnnicntee with the rhninhor i9, thee enihling the eonveniei'it in- Vrndnrtion oifinoricnnt to the letter.

lill/Thiie t ie torni et the invfnition heretofore dencrilied in denir; `hie in that the Stirling; bueh ing; may he readily nirinn'iisietnred trein cj-,i'lind riool @toch end the cyiinilri 'nl cavity lei; in the nleeve nut termed hy :i horinfij operation or the like thin; ioii'iiinizingi` the ros-it et pro-- dert-oir, it nerewnitnlie the nee ol' the pine or other suitable oieenr Vtor preventing rehrtive rotation between the slidingl hnehingr :ind the sleeve ont, This requirement, howevern is; :i voided in the torni ot the invention shown in ligfgnM El :ind et and which, there'lore7 may lie deemed preferable onder certain condi` tiene, :ilthonggh ordiinrrily eligrhtiy more efi-v peneive to niennitziclnre. En it the outer end et the sliding hnehing.; is ot other than cviindrirel croire Section ne, for exemple, olE i elygrenei creen eectiirov and the envity lil/in i ie `drei/'e nntie' arranged to contorni thereto i that while the hi Shinnl is tree to .filide lon* eji'i ndinelly in the :zivity it isi prevented ironi ro :it'ief therein. ln other respecte the 'torni of rnc invention Shown in these tignires in :idr-limitedly ein'iilnr to thet heretoiore deiorilied; i

in Filete. 5 and G still nnother forni et the invention is ehown in which the erinnngenient ol' the elidine; lninhine', Sleeve not :rnd spring); in elihfitnntisrlh7 siiiiniler to that Shown in the tivo precmlino` tieni-es, that ie, the enter end oit the eiid'ingg lnieliing;` oit polyfg'oi'ial contonf und the cnvity in the Sleeve not in renifed to eontorin thereto. liloWever in thin l'orni ot the invention the conical hearing; nnrtnces on the Spring eye hnel'iing` l nre lie Sliding bushing with :in axial ]ifrrent end oft the Spring' eye hnehingi; and torni e hearing therefor'. Similarly, to 'forro :i

(n ol e groene cop or lnhricfiting` ed on the enter sorteee thereof odi icinit` le instead oi in interior :ini are' re! `conditionsl the Sliding hnshingr in constantly urged inwn'dly hy the spring 1,8 jest :1S in the other forms ot the invention heretofore described so ne to nnton'intieally take op and conipenente tor 'weer between the tapered hearing snrtecee. it will ot course he iinrther nl )pnirentthzit in this torni oi" the inven tion the enter end ot the elidingl lnisliine muy enitahle meer si erich sie the pins 2() utilized ne hitherto described to prevent its rotation in the eleevennt.

`While I have herein described end illnetreted certain terms ot my invention with conside fehle i'izirticulzirity it will he under-- stood l do not thereby desire or intend to ron line myeel'ie ."-ipecilicnlly thereto :in inodil'irzi-' tions nniy he mede in the torni, construction ind erinngenient et the vnrione parte ilfdeeired Without de ilinrting :troni the epirit and .scope ot the invention :te delined in the nppended clninie.

Having thon den :r'hed my inventii'iin 'i `rlnini end desire to protect hy Lettere indent ot the United States l.. ln ronihinntion with n pzrir ol! sinned inipportinn; nieniliern, :i hnnhin-'g' hzlvinnj op peeitely tnpered hearing enrtarcesj :in eienient cnrred hy one nieniher und henneM nr henrinp; snrtnce eoopernthfe with one et' :mid (nperednn'riiziree, n elidnhle element hevinnf i hearing enritziee cooperotive with the eti oiI Seid tapered mirtziees, en elena-ent enrried the other ineniher sind nurroinnlini; the

`Sliding@I elementi, end expnnnihle ineens inlei-T poned `between Seid hist niei'i'tioned element end the slidnhle elenient operative to roi tiniionely nrne sin-id elemente apart, i`

i2. ln roiinliinnitionfivith e pair oi opened snipporting;l inenihern7 n, hnehing` disposed he tween 'the inen'ihere and hnvinl oppoeitely t: pei-ed hearing Surfaces, en element carried hy one inelnher hnvinp` :i h i: fing); :nirtere eooperntive with one ol" seid tapered enrzieee, o hollow element eerried hy the other et sind nieinhore, :i hnehine elidnhle in Seid hollow element end'hm/ino,l e. hearingl srnftnce coopn erntive with the other ot Seid tapered snr.- :ineena und e, Spring); interposed between the lninliinn' end the hollow elenient opeii'zitive to constantly orge the lnlehing; ngeninet- Seid tnpered surfe/ce. y

`3. In coniihinzition with n pnir ot epnced -he innde cylindrical. ineteed ot polygonzil end i itl() supporting members, a bushing disposed between the members and -having oppositely tapered bearing suriaces, an element carried by one member having a bearing surface cooperative *with one of said tapered surfaces, a hollow element carried by the other of saidl members, a bushing slidable in said hollow element and having a bearing surface cooperative with the other oi' said voneof the members, a sleeve nut carried by the other m ember,',a bushing longitudinally f slidable Within the nut, the bushing and the spindle heilig'y respectively provided with taperedjbearing surfaces, a bushing surrounding the spindle and the iirst mentioned bushing and having bearing surfaces respectivel coo Jeratlve with the bearine' suriaees thereon, and a spring interposed between the nut and the iirst mentioned bushing operartive toI continuously urge said bushing against the surrounding bushing. V

5. In lcombination with a pair of spaced 'Y supporting members, a spindle carried by one,ofthe-members, a sleeve nut Carried by the other member and provided with a cavity, a sliding bushing extending into the cavity, the spindle and the sliding bushing being vrespectively provided with tapered 1 bearing surfaces, a bushing surrounding theI spindle and thesliding bushing and having tapered bearing surfaces respectively cooperative with the first mentioned surfaces, and a spring interposed between the sliding bushing and the sleeve nut operative to ccn-V tinuously urge the slldmg bushing in 'a direction to maintainthe several bearing surfaces 2 1n engagement.

6. In combination with a pair of spaced supporting members, a spindle carried by one of the members and having an inwardly tapered bearing surface, a sleeve nut having a cavity and carried by the other member,

abushingslidable in 'the nut and having` an inwardly tapered bearing surface oppositely disposed with respect to the tapered surface on the spindle, means operative to prevent axial rotation of'the'sliding bushing with respectto` the nut, a bushing surrounding the spindle and the sliding bushing and having tapered bearing'surfaces.respectively cof ,operative with the tapered'bearing surfaces jthereon, and a spring interposed between the sliding bushing and the nut operative to constantly urge the slidingbushing into the Y surrounding bushing to maintain the respective Y bearing vsurfacesV in engagement.

7. In a Wear compensating bearing, a spindle adapted to be carried by a fixed support and provided with a conical bearing region, a hollow nut adapted to be carried by another fixed support, a bushing extending into the nut and having a conical bearing region, a spring interposed between the bushing and the nut ope `ative to constantly torce the bushing away from the nut, and means operative to prevent axial rotation ot the bushing in the nnt.

8. A wear compensating bearing comprising a spindle adapted to be carried by a fixed support and provided with a conical bearing region, a nut havingr a cavity adapted to be carried by another fixed support, a bushing extending into the cavity in the nut and having a conical bearing region oppositely disposed with respect to the correspondin r region on the spindle and also provided with a cavity, a spring extending in both of said avities and operative to constantly urge the bushing away from the nut, means for preventing axial rotation of the bushing with respect -to the nut, and a hollow bushing surrounding both the spindle and thc first mentioned bushing and having conical bearing surfaces respectively adapted to cooperate with the corresponding conical surfaces thereon.

9. In combina-fion with relatively movable supporting men'ibcrs, a wear compensating bearing forming a connection therebetween and comprising a spindle carried by one part oit one of said members and having a conical bearing region, a hollow nut carried by another part of' said member, a bushing extending into and axially slidable in said nnt and having a conical bearing,r region.l means operative to constantly urge the bushing away Afrom the nut and means carried by the other supporting member having conical bearing regions respectively cooperative with those on the bushing and the spindle.

l0. In combination with relatively movable supporting members, a wear compen sating bearing forming a connection there between and comprising a spindle carried by one part of one of said members and having a conical bearing region, a hollow nut carried b v another part of said member, a bushing extending into said nut and having a conical bearing rcgiolna spring interposed between the bushing and the nut and operative to constantly urge the bushing away from the nut, means operative to prevent axial rotation of the bushing in the nut and means carried by the other supporting member having conical bearing regions respectively cooperative with those on the bushing and the spindle.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto handthis 10th day of Mar., 1928.

CHARLES H. SAYRE.

set my lll) 

